Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Elusive Squadron's Demonic Cult Spy
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Suddenly, a blue falcon swooped down, startling the squad members.
"What kind of falcon is that…?"
"I've never seen a falcon with such a blue sheen before."
Se Yeong approached the Eastern Blue Falcon perched on a tree branch.
The clueless squad members urgently tried to stop him.
"Its beak and talons are sharp, Brother."
"Falcons are fiercer than they look, Hero Han."
Se Yeong untied the message tube from the Eastern Blue Falcon's ankle and pulled out the letter inside.
"Oh? So it's a falcon you raised, Brother?"
Se Yeong silently unrolled the tightly wound letter and read it.
The message was densely packed with news: the Demonic Cult's new leader had visited, the great Demonic Cult war would happen no later than five years from now, and One Hidden was in the leader's hands.
"Damn it… Shit…"
The words slipped from Se Yeong's mouth as he scanned the letter.
He had scoured the Murim Alliance high and low searching for One Hidden, only to learn it was in the Demonic Cult all along.
And the revelation that the great war would erupt within five years was more than enough to shock him.
‘This means I have to kill the Demonic Cult Leader and take One Hidden back…’
Se Yeong checked the writing on the back of the letter.
The reverse side stated that even if the great war broke out, the family couldn't offer help, and it ended with wishes for his good health.
He hadn't expected aid from his family when he left home anyway.
But sending this letter meant something must have happened with the Demonic Cult Leader.
‘Were they threatened? No… Grandfather and Grandmother would kill anyone who tried to blackmail them before bending to threats.’
Kyaak… Kyaak…!
As the Eastern Blue Falcon cried out noisily, Paeng Se Gi, who had been staring blankly, spoke up.
"Why's it crying so loud, Brother?"
Snapping out of his thoughts at the sound, Se Yeong quickly collected himself.
"How would you feel if I gave you work but no food? Get some fresh meat."
"Meat? Oh, got it."
Sa Sa Un dashed to the kitchen and soon returned with a palm-sized chunk of meat.
At the sight of the meat, the Eastern Blue Falcon stopped crying, seemingly pleased.
"Grandfather and Grandmother are doing well?"
The Eastern Blue Falcon ignored Se Yeong's question and stared intently at the meat.
As it glared hungrily at the meat, a gray pigeon feather clung to its beak.
Se Yeong peeled the feather from its beak and offered the meat.
"Did you eat another pigeon?"
The moment the meat was handed over, the Eastern Blue Falcon snatched it with its beak and tore into it ravenously.
Hahaha…!
Se Yeong burst into bright laughter at the sight.
Flutter…
After devouring the raw meat with relish, the Eastern Blue Falcon spread its wings and soared high into the sky.
Spotting a pigeon crossing the heavens just then, it veered sharply, snatched it with its beak, and flew off.
"That… looked like a messenger pigeon…"
The squad members watched in dismay as the Eastern Blue Falcon vanished into the distance.
Messenger pigeons were precious assets of each sect, family, and the Murim Alliance.
No one could just catch and eat them casually, and even playing around with one could earn severe punishment.
"Who cares?"
At Se Yeong's nonchalant response, Paeng Se Gi approached Sa Sa Un.
Sa Sa Un was staring blankly after the departing falcon.
"You. If you snitch about this to anyone else, you'll die by my fist."
As Paeng Se Gi raised his fist and threatened him, Sa Sa Un shrank back.
"I… I absolutely won't."
In the past, he would have been plotting how to tattle right away.
But not this time—he couldn't even dream of it.
He still vividly remembered the thrashing he'd gotten before.
‘You lot are all in cahoots. Why would I snitch and look like an idiot?’
Even if he did tell, if the squad denied it, he'd just be the fool.
Sa Sa Un clenched his fist tightly and sidled over to Se Yeong, avoiding Paeng Se Gi.
"Shall I prepare dinner, Hero Han?"
The sun hadn't set yet, but it was summer, and evening had already arrived.
"Go ahead."
At Se Yeong's permission, he began setting the table.
But the dinner he served was just rice, braised pork, and fried tofu skin.
Se Yeong sat at the table, picked up his chopsticks, and popped a piece of pork into his mouth.
Chew chew…
"Warriors grow stronger with practice, but your cooking skills aren't improving at all."
It wasn't bad, exactly.
But Sa Sa Un's cooking was no different now than when he'd started.
At Se Yeong's criticism, Sa Sa Un bowed his head quickly.
"I'll try harder."
But that wasn't how he really felt.
‘Ungrateful bastards.’
Forced to cook against his will, his skills had no reason to improve.
Paeng Se Gi, now seated, grabbed a piece of meat and joined the complaints.
"Brother's right. Your cooking just isn't getting any better."
He was the one who always ate without complaint, so Sa Sa Un seethed inwardly.
"I'll… make it tastier next time."
But his words came out polite as ever.
Se Yeong glanced at Sa Sa Un's flushed face before turning to the squad.
"The great Demonic Cult war will break out within the next five years."
The squad members, just about to eat, stared at Se Yeong in bewilderment.
What kind of nonsense was this? A Demonic Cult war out of nowhere?
None of them had ever seriously considered the war restarting.
Maybe someday, sure.
But within five years?
Yi Cheon Yeong, the calmest of them, spoke first.
"Was that in the letter the blue falcon brought?"
He had guessed right.
Se Yeong nodded, confirming it.
"That intel is rock-solid."
Grandfather had said the war would come within five years.
That could mean next month or a year from now.
"So, what's your plan going forward?"
Yi Cheon Yeong's tone was utterly cautious.
He seemed to accept Se Yeong's words at face value.
But not everyone did.
"W-Wait a minute. What are you saying, Hero Han? The Demonic Cult war happening again?"
Sa Sa Un felt like he'd been struck by lightning.
It was too absurd, leaving him flustered.
How could something this huge happen in the Tenth Squad, of all places?
He couldn't believe Se Yeong.
"Shouldn't we report this to the Strategist first, Hero Han?"
His suggestion sounded reasonable, but the squad wouldn't hear it.
"Yeah, like the Strategist would believe us."
"Hey, Sa Sa Un. You think the Strategist would buy our story?"
Stung by their sharp retorts, Sa Sa Un let out a long sigh.
Haa…
‘Damn idiots.’
Even he doubted the Strategist would believe the Tenth Squad.
As the serious discussion continued, a Murim Alliance warrior arrived.
"The Strategist summons the squad leader."
At the words, Paeng Se Gi and Yi Cheon Yeong exchanged uneasy glances.
Neither wanted to go.
"Your turn this time."
"What? I covered for you last time."
As they bickered, Se Yeong pointed at Paeng Se Gi.
"You go."
"Got it, Brother. I'll be right back."
Paeng Se Gi rose quickly to follow the warrior.
"If the Strategist asks about the martial instructor, say the Tenth Squad doesn't need one unless it's Kang Seok Hyeon."
"Kang Seok Hyeon? Who's that?"
"He exists. Anyway, I'm not taking anyone else."
As a loyal brother, he had to honor Se Yeong's will.
"Understood."
"And don't mention I know this instructor."
Rumors could draw rivalry from other squads.
"Don't worry, Brother."
Entering the room, Paeng Se Gi first paid his respects.
"Tenth Squad Leader Paeng Se Gi reporting to the Strategist."
The Strategist looked up from his work at the desk.
"The Elusive Squadron has decided to assign a martial instructor to each squad. If your members don't have a preference, I'll appoint one. Pass that along."
Paeng Se Gi's chest swelled with pride at the words.
‘Ah… Brother really is amazing.’
How had he foreseen this so clearly?
"The Tenth Squad would like to request Kang Seok Hyeon as our instructor."
The Strategist was genuinely surprised by the response.
Few in the Murim Alliance knew of Kang Seok Hyeon.
Only famous elders and the Alliance Leader did.
Time had passed, but mainly because he never showed himself.
"How do you know of him, Young Master Paeng?"
"Well…"
Paeng Se Gi started to answer, then changed tack.
"I heard about him from my father."
The Strategist didn't suspect a thing.
One of the Five Absolutes of the Martial World would know, of course.
"Very well. You're dismissed."
As Paeng Se Gi turned to leave, he hesitated.
The Strategist noticed.
"Something else?"
Gathering his courage, Paeng Se Gi asked.
"If the Demonic Cult war breaks out again, what will you do?"
The Strategist replied carefully.
"The Murim Alliance isn't just sitting idle. Beggars' Clan disciples are watching the borders, so we'll know first. Plus, we have the Five Absolutes now—it's not like before. What worries me isn't the Demonic Cult, but the righteous factions."
The squad's hunch was spot on.
The Alliance didn't see the Demonic Cult as a major threat.
"Understood, Strategist."
Paeng Se Gi turned and left.
‘I hope Brother's worries prove unfounded…’
If war came, his father would fight too.
‘At least before then, I have to catch up to Father.’
After receiving the letter, Se Yeong felt the pressure mounting.
If his skills matched Grandfather's, he'd have no worries—but he wasn't there yet.
"Time's short, so cut back on sleep and focus solely on training. You three except Paeng Se Gi—head to the smithy and get heavy weapons made. Bind stones tightly to your limbs during practice."
Se Yeong had trained the same way.
Starting small, adding weight as it became familiar.
Even under clothes, constant movement caused scrapes and bleeding.
But that passed with habituation.
Most of the squad understood, but Hahu Yeon, who dreamed small, questioned it.
"With the Five Absolutes guarding us, could the martial world really fall?"
The martial world placed absolute trust in them.
Se Yeong knew this and didn't scold harshly.
"Think the Demonic Cult doesn't know that? If they invade, they must be confident they can handle the Absolutes."
Hahu Yeon fell silent.
Just then, as Se Yeong issued orders, someone entered the Tenth Squad's courtyard.
Se Yeong turned and greeted him politely.
"Welcome, Elder."
The visitor to the Tenth Squad's quarters was none other than martial instructor Kang Seok Hyeon.
"Human connections are truly wondrous things."